PIP benefit rules you need to know or your payments of up to £9,584 a year could stop

MILLIONS suffering from long-term health conditions or disabilities get cash help through personal independence payments (PIP).

If you are entitled to both parts, the benefit is worth up to £184.30 a week, so it’s well worth checking if you are eligible.

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To qualify for PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you have had difficulties with daily living or getting around.

You must also expect these difficulties to continue for at least 12 months (unless you’re terminally ill with less than 12 months to live).

However, if you claim PIP, you must report a number of changes to the Department for Work and Pensions.

If you do not, you may have to repay the cash you’ve been paid and also fork out a £50 penalty.

You may even be taken to court if you’ve been found to have purposefully given the wrong information.

These are the changes you must report to the DWP:

• Your personal details change, for example, your name, address or doctor
• The help you need or your condition changes
• Your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than 12 months
• You go into hospital or a care home
• You go abroad
• You’re imprisoned or held in detention
• Your immigration status has changed, if you’re not a British citizen

These changes can affect your PIP award.

Depending on the change, your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same or stop.

You must also contact the PIP enquiry line straight away if:

• Your personal details change, for example your name, address, phone numbers, bank account or doctor
• Someone is acting on your behalf and that person changes

REPORT A CHANGE

To report a change in circumstances, you must contact the PIP enquiry line.

If you need someone to help you, you can:

• Ask for them to be added to your call – you cannot do this if you use textphone
• Ask someone else to call on your behalf – you’ll need to be with them when they call

Call 0800 121 4433 to report a change in circumstances.

CHANGES YOU DON’T NEED TO REPORT

While you need to report the above changes to the DWP, there are five you don’t need to inform the government department about:

• You get a job, return to work or leave work
• There’s a change in your earnings or other income
• Someone joins or leaves your household
• Are made redundant
• Take retirement

To find out more about changes in circumstances, visit www.gov.uk/pip/change-of-circumstances.

CHECK FOR PIP FREEBIES

Claiming PIP makes you eligible for a number of additional extras that you might not be aware of – but could save you some cash.

For example, if you’re on either the daily living or mobility part of PIP you might be able to get money off your council tax bill.

But the amount you can get off varies depending on how much PIP you actually receive and where you live.

You have to contact your local authority to find out what discount you’re entitled to, and it might ask for a PIP letter as proof.

You can use your PIP award letter to apply for a blue badge, although some councils can charge up to £10 for it.

Blue badge parking spaces tend to be closer to the front of shop entrances, making your experience easier.

You could also be entitled to a complete vehicle tax exemption if you’re on PIP, depending on your circumstances.

If you’re on PIP and depending on whether you have a qualifying disability, you might be able to get your NHS prescriptions free too.

We’ve previously listed all the PIP freebies and discounts you could get.